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Wind Up Problem of Spiral Galaxies

oloughka · 2012-03-03 14:59:05

If the solution to the wind up problem of spiral galaxies is density waves then how would the stars still orbit the galactic centre? Are the arms a mix of density and material? Or are they completely separate? I don't see how that could be though. Any enlightenment would be appreciated!

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03-03-2012 3:59pm

#1

oloughka

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If the solution to the wind up problem of spiral galaxies is density waves then how would the stars still orbit the galactic centre? Are the arms a mix of density and material? Or are they completely separate? I don't see how that could be though. Any enlightenment would be appreciated!

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#2 03-03-2012 6:42pm
Popoutman

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The majority of the stars live longer than the density wave progression through the galaxy's regions. The density waves themselves show up the arms through the young massive bright stars and the nebulae and clusters. When the density waves pass through an area, the clusters disperse, the massive stars die, and the long-term star population just keeps on going.

The dust piling-up effect of the density waves doesn't affect the stars themselves, but allows new star-forming regions to develop.

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